With the WNBA preseason kicking off on Friday, there was a noticeable shift away from the streaming challenges that plagued 2024.
This time, fans didn’t need to struggle with starting a live stream that could reach 2 million views; almost all of the preseason games are accessible via the WNBA League Pass.
Interestingly, the official YouTube stream encountered copyright issues, but it didn’t grind to a halt.
The games featuring the Wings against the Aces, and the one against the Brazilian national team, were highlighted as the first preseason games ever to be broadcast nationally.
“I know I’m tuned in,” Liberty head coach Sandy Blondelo commented on the preseason game. “I’m genuinely interested… We have to keep building on the momentum from the last few years, and we’re bound to keep improving, especially after last year.”
Out of the 15 preseason games, 14 are available free through the WNBA League Pass on its app, with the exception of the Sunday Fever versus Brazilian national team match.
This game is set to take place on the Iowa campus, where Indiana’s Kate Linklark once excelled. It’s part of the league’s initiative to showcase current stars in college venues, airing exclusively on ESPN.
The Fever’s matchup against the Mystics on Saturday will also be among the nationally broadcasted games.
According to ESPN, the finals between the Liberty and Lynx were the most-watched championship series in WNBA history, averaging 1.6 million viewers, which paved the way for all preseason games to be accessible for the first time.
Facing the Japanese basketball league Toyota Antelope at the University of Oregon three days later, the Liberty won’t have any of their exhibition games on national channels, but they’ll have 32 out of 44 regular-season games televised.
Johnkel Jones remarked on the preseason changes, stating, “The league is expanding. There’s a spotlight on us; people are watching and getting excited.”
In a surprising move, Liberty let go of Kaitlyn Davis, the third overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
